News

World Record at Bartel Grassland

On December 3, nearly 100 people gathered at Bartel Grassland in Matteson, Illinois, to attempt to set a new world record for planting seeds by hand. They gathered knowing that whether or not they set a record, they would be helping to restore the area’s natural vegetation.

Owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Bartel Grassland was once a hayfield with dense hedgerows. For five years, volunteers have been working with Audubon and Forest Preserve staff to return the grassland to a more natural condition. They and contractors have removed miles of hedgerows, conducted controlled burns, pulled invasive plants, and seeded native grasses and wildflowers.

Dick Riner, volunteer steward for the site, organized the event as a fun way to engage new volunteers in the restoration effort. He said it drew people of all ages, ranging from families with children in strollers to people in their eighties. Within just a few hours, the group succeeded in scattering an estimated 25 million seeds. “When you look at $10,000 worth of seeds, well, that’s a lot of seeds,” said Riner.

Riner had appealed to the Guinness Book of World Records for recognition for the most seeds hand-planted by the most people in one day. The approach to Guinness got widespread publicity, but the book in the end declined to add seed planting to its lists. Nevertheless, what counts to Riner is that a great social event brought volunteers to plant so many seeds that will improve this important nesting habitat for grassland birds. In the spring, volunteers who return to the site will see rare birds such as bobolinks and Henslow’s sparrows. The work will also improve the grassland for people like Riner who enjoy the peace and quiet of the preserve. “I go out there just to breathe the air,” he said. “It’s as close as you can get around here to being in a prairie wilderness.”

— Stephanie Folk